8 days exploring Slovenia and Triglav National Park
The trending destination of Slovenia is catching international attention for its beauty. This guide to Slovenia and Triglav National Park offers incredible adventures and affordability.
Logistics
- Flying into Ljubljana (LJU) can be expensive and have a potential long layovers.
- Opt for nearby airports to save time and money.
- Zagreb (ZAG) – (our pick) 2 hr drive to Ljubljana, additional 40 minutes to Lake Bled.
- Venice (VCE) to save. 2.5 hr drive to Triglav National Park.
- Trains will connect you to the rest of Europe but mainly to Ljubljana.
- Car rental is your best option to get around Slovenia. Bus services are available.
- Be mindful of the toll system for highways in Slovenia. Online prepay system.
- Opt for nearby airports to save time and money.
When to go
- April to May – Shoulder season. Mountain roads will be open. Alpine huts in the National Park will still be closed. Discounted rates for activities and lodging. Weather is perfect for hiking. 40-70 F
- June to September – Peak season with hut to hut hiking available. Higher prices for all goods and services. Temps 50-80 F
- October to March – Fall foliage will be nice and Ljubljana has great christmas markets and festivals
Lake Bled area
Days 1-2
Land and drive to the quaint town of Lake Bled, a pleasant destination and a great hub to do a lot of day hikes from.
Spend your first day strolling the walking path that follows the lake shore. Watch some world famous crews practice rowing across the beautiful lake. Grab a bench and bottle wine and catch the sunset behind Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
A morning stroll and climb up to Bled Castle will get your heart and lungs going. The museum and overlooks are worth it. However, if you want free overlooks of Lake Bled, follow the walking paths around the outside castle that eventually lead back down to the lakeside path.
Vintar Gorge
Vintar Gorge is one of many beautiful gorges located in the Lake Bled and Triglav region. The ticketed entry is worth it and easy to reach from Bled. The spring thaw provided a thrilling flow of water below the catwalks along the gorge.
At the end to the gorge trail, cross over the bridge and follow the signage for the “Tail of the Snake Queen Trail” if you want to explore more. The trail will lead you back to the main entrance of Vintar Gorge.
Note: Park at the remote parking lot (free) for the gorge and obtain your tickets for the gorge before you board the free shuttle. A return trip is included.
Poklijuka Gorge
A few minutes drive up to Pokljuka Gorge is a quiet trek with surprising views and some bonus sights to see. The dry gorge has several trail entrances. The start by Gostilna Zatrnik is the shortest route. Descend into the gorge and find the catwalk that leads you through the narrowest part of the gorge with a stairway.
Work your way up the gorge till you find the trail split that takes you along the ridge of the gorge and heading in the return direction. When you descend again you’ll find a small stone cave with some skylights as you traverse through. This will lead you back to the main gorge point where you started.
Slap (Waterfall) Peričnik
Slap in Slovenian translates to waterfall. This roadside stop with a short loop trail leads you around to the main waterfall you can walk behind. If, you follow the trail to the left up as you approach the falls you can see the upper falls and overlook of the lower falls.
Triglav National Park
Day 3-4
Lake Bohinj
Lake Bohinj is a glacial valley lake that sits at the base of some great hikes and views. Stroll the lakeside if you wish or drive the South road along the lake to Slap Savica. This short walking path up to one of the taller waterfalls in Triglav is a must see. Stop at the cafe at the base for a refreshing tea after.
Seven Lakes Valley
This must do hike is a full day or multi day hut to hut hike. Easiest access to the alpine lakes is from Planio Balto. The first few lakes are grouped close to each other, with the last few about another hour up the trail. You actually get to hike a section of the famous Via Apline trail that traverses 8 countries and over 2000 Km of trail.
Note – During the Springtime, access to Plania Balto trail head is only open on the weekends and holidays. The private residential road is gated access during the week for residents only. Access from the Slap Savica area is open but, the ascent up the glacial wall will take great fitness to reach the alpine lakes.
Stara Fužina
Located just East of Bohinj Lake is the Stara Fužina tail. Ascend through the trees and sheep grazing lands to reach views that overlook Lake Bohinj and the small villages around the valley. There are several vistas, each providing a different direction of your viewpoint. The descent back gives some great photo opportunities of the lake and small farm out buildings among the grazing fields.
Viševnik
The Winter ski area is open year round for treks to the peak. Although the lifts are closed, Viševnik offers panoramic views that are great for sunsets. The trails follow the slopes to the peak. The gradient is steeper than it looks, plan accordingly.
Bovec
Day 5-6
Most of the next sights are along the route from Lake Bled to Bovec. The drive overall is the experience, especially through Vrsic Pass.
Martuljški Slapovi
The two waterfalls on this trail are well worth it. This a great way to lead off your journey to Bovec. Hike up the valley and through some wildfire burn scar to reach the falls. Trail markings after the first falls are a bit scarce, use your tails mapping app.
Lake Jasna
The quaint village has a true gem of a lake and river for everyone to enjoy. Accessible to all, is Lake Jasna and the accompanying river that runs parallel to it. The Summer hot spot has a few cafes to grab refreshments as you can swim in the lake, sit on the riverside or nap under the shade trees.
Drive the Vrsic Pass
Vrsic Pass is the scenic route that connects Bovec to Jasna and Lake Bled. Closed in WInters, the Pass opens sometime in April, depending on the snowpack. Enjoy yourself along the winding road and roadside cafes with mountain views. The high pass reveals the Soca Valley and beyond!
Canyoning
Canyoning is the activity of hiking through valley rivers from snow melt and sliding down natural waterslides down the mountain. Wetsuits and special water shoes allow you to traverse the terrain and water with ease. The 3-4 hour journey is a must do in Slovenia. Some of the waterfall slides require rope lowering assistance from your guide. This culminates with a final 30 meter water fall you descend through on rope!
Rafting the Soca
We used the same guide company, Aquatours Bovec , for the rafting and canyoning of the Soca Valley. The pristine waters of the Soca River are well protected by all use it. The 3-4 guide takes you through the valley with several stops to water slide down the raft they flip upside down and swim around. Don’t forget to Hike along the famed Soca gorge. The narrow slot section of the river is a geological wonder as the river cuts through the bedrock.
Mangart Peak
Located near the Slovenia/Italy border is Mangart Peak, the highest road in Slovenia! Closed Winters, the narrow road takes you well above the treeline which reduces your ascent to the peak. the hiking area follows the Ridgeline with spectacular views of the Italian and Julian Alps.
Ljubliana
Day 7-8
City Center
Walkable and charming, the city center of Ljubliana is quaint with some excellent resturants. Ljubliana Castle is the anchor to the city center with Ljubliana River at its base. Like most european cities, strolling the endless and alleys and cafe culture is the main thing to do.
The fringe neighborhoods surrounding the city center are worth your time as well. The proximity of where the locals live and socialize is a short walk or bicycle ride to reach some authentic people watching and cafes. The free Botanični vrt Univerze v Ljubljani are located in a quiet neighborhood with even a bee apiary area.
Bike Sharing
The local bike share share program is a breeze to use and makes getting around a bit more fun. The bikes are very affordable at $1 USD an hour. Pickup and drop at any station you wish. Exploring the neighborhoods and local bike paths were well worth the $1 usd.
Skocjan Caves
The lesser known caves located just a bit further South of Postojna Caves are the Unesco World Heritage Skocjan Caves. Busy but not crowded, the cave system is massive and the shear scale once on your guided tour is unfathomable. Larger by volume, the Skocjan galleries will indeed impress. With a sky bridge over the river you’ll have a great story to tell. Pictures are not allowed during the tour.
